Zambezi Safari Testimonials

Hi Fi,

I just wanted to follow up and tell you that we had a really great experience at Cottars, (Kenya). I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a quality and thrilling experience. The staff were absolutely wonderful, the accommodations outstanding, and food just delicious.  We've been on a couple safaris of this nature before, and this was a highlight.

Thank you for suggesting it and making the arrangements. We hope to get a group together to visit in August 2013. I think we already have 8 interested!!

Warm regards, and hope all is well with you,

Linda

May 2011

Governors' was great as was the whole experience. I managed to get the
return flight put back to 5pm which made all the difference. Thanks for
all your help. We will certainly be in touch if we go again.

Regards,
John

July 2008

I would like to thank you immensely for all your help in assisting me in booking what I would consider the most amazing and best trip (and there's been plenty) ever! As I mentioned to you before I left I was incredibly nervous about travelling alone as it was my first time and felt the area wouldn't have been the safest. I was treated like a princess at Mashatu Main Camp by everyone it was phenomenal! My guide, Dan, was amazing and took great care of me from making sure I wasn't jumping out of the ute (which I was literally hanging off the side on my first game drive) and including making sure I didn't feel too far away from the main facilities as I was the only person at the accommodation on the first night. I ended up sitting in the passenger seat on my final drive so my comfort increased immensely.

Tent camp was an experience and a half (including nearly stepping on a snake on my departure) but awesome! My comfort zone completely went out the door but wrapped I did it. 2 days was perfect. I even managed to jump on a trip back to Main Camp to say hi to my new mates during my stay there so it was terrific.

As I mentioned to you not only was the trip hard for me to book as my first solo trip travelling and terrified I'd be eaten by a lion (trust me I was having nightmares about it 2 weeks before I left), it was also a difficult time for me as I was leaving the UK after 10 years. I couldn't have done it without your support and patience (gosh I must have been frustrating) through assisting me in my trip planning which started in Tanzania, went to Kruger Park, Vic Falls and ended in Botswana - definitely the right thing for me personally. I will be getting my parents to do this at some stage so will definitely be in touch to help me arrange this - and of course I'll be doing another in a few years.

Thank you again and good to see I might have given you some comfort when you were travelling alone, as if I could do it, trust me, anyone can! And to think I nearly pulled out the Monday of my flight - didn't care if lost cost or not - that's how nervous I was about it!

Best wishes and thank you for a trip of a life time!

Kare

March 2008

We have been back for awhile and I apologize for not replying to your email sooner but it seems everyday has been overloaded with "things" that needed to be attended to.

That said, we want to tell you how delighted we were with everything you put together for us. The accommodations were great and the transfers very dependable, comfortable and timely. We thoroughly enjoyed Waterberry lodge and loved the staff! Everyone was kind and attentive. The food was absolutely fabulous!!!! Natasha and Richard were very accommodating and we had the real pleasure of meeting Tessa who has a lovely way about her with such a delightful personality ! We bragged about you to her !

We can't thank you enough for being so responsive to our needs - especially with such short notice. It couldn't have been better if we'd planned it months ahead. We had had a few offers returned to my email requests, but no one was as personable and as attentive as you. And, no one acted like they could make it work at that "late date" and "on our budget". The fact that you called us personally on the phone made us feel very comfortable with your advice. We have not one complaint and can say that everything went exactly as you promised. Chobe Lodge was also excellent and it was a nice contrast with Waterberry.

There is so much more I could say because it was thrilling to be there and have everything arranged so thoughtfully. Being so far away from home it gave us confidence to know we had chosen such a great person to arrange this travel. If you ever need a testimony please allow us to give you the credit you deserve!!!

Thank you, Thank you !!!!

Most Sincerely, Bob and Sheri Fitzpatrick

July 2008

Kenya was wonderful so a huge thank you from both of us for organising such a fantastic trip and also arranging for our bottle of bubbly at Offbeat Mara, was such a lovely gesture and we certainly enjoyed it on our first sundowners!

The whole trip was amazing, I think Offbeat was our favourite, the camp was perfect so luxurious and they literally thought of everything - I loved the hot water bottle although I did frighten myself half to death the first night I got into bed as it was the last thing we were expecting in Africa!

The people that looked after the camp were brilliant and we were fortunate to have two fantastic English speaking masi guys from who we learnt a huge amount - they seemed to ask us plenty of questions about the 'western way' so we certainly felt it worked both ways which was exactly what we were looking for - and they also didn't mind us mucking in, which again made me feel a lot more comfortable. We felt very fortunate to have exclusive private guiding throughout the whole trip, this was wonderful for us but I appreciate that this was due to lack of tourism which seems such a shame, the media really does not help in these situations - the whole area seemed empty with vast amounts of game due to the freak weather bring they out - such a shame.

Sosian was certainly a completely different experience - again the place was practically empty which meant we had the beautiful Italian villa - it certainly made it difficult to leave for camping - but glad we experienced it - we managed two nights under the stars in the most amazing open air set up I have ever seen - very comfortable and so unique, the outdoor showers were amazing. We cut short the last night due to tummy bugs but it wasn't a hardship as we had a huge four poster and 15 acre bathroom awaiting us at the ranch!!

The camping was fantastic, walking quite taxing due to the heat but well worth it, a completely different experience to Masi as you were obviously having to hunt down the game which made it all the more exciting when you did see it - we also had some particularly interesting experiences with an Elephant herd when we were snoozing at lunch and also again when in a truck, quite interesting to see how differently they behave when they are not used to humans like the masi Mara! Thankfully we all survived but with great stories to tell, the herd obviously get bigger every time we tell it - I think I am up to running away from at least 75 ellies now grown from 25!!
The knowledge the guides have was fantastic we were lucky in both places that they specialised in Birds as this was a particular interest for us and I had great fun with a checklist provided by sosian.

Actually Offbeat did ask if there was any suggestions we had to offer, we couldn't think of anything when we left as everything was so perfect, but a checklist booklet with all the species to be found might be a good idea, I certainly found it really fun ticking it all off, it became quite a game.

Lamu was beautiful, definitely good for recharging our batteries but was glad we only stayed a few days as could go stir crazy - but that is just us, useless at sitting still!! The owners were really good fun and again the staff out of this world.

In terms of food, 14 out of 10 I didn't quite expect such amazing cuisine I looked forward to every meal - thankfully the tummy bug I picked up has shed any excess weight I put on as I was convinced I would be at least 7 pounds heavier as who eats a huge breakfast followed by 2 course lunch and 4 course dinner every day!! I felt like the queen - strictly back to muesli twice a day and boring old pasta!!!

I am sorry I am not much of a travel writer so my rendition is not very good, but I would be happy to chat on the phone if you would like anything further, there is so many memories I only wish I was good at putting them on paper!

Once again thank you for the trip of a lifetime - worth every penny and the balloon ride was brilliant he loved it - (Incidentally I got a Nintendo DS!!!)
Take Care
Claire

September 2008

Dear Fi

We had a wonderfully exciting and memorable trip and very much enjoyed both parts of the holiday – firstly revisiting Paddy’s old school, seeing the real Kenya and meeting some lovely local people.

Then secondly going on safari, where we were spoilt rotten! Sosian exceeded our expectations. Annabelle and Steve were very attentive hosts and all the staff were cheerful, helpful and very knowledgeable about the wildlife;  it was  a privilege to share their passion.

Our room was most comfortable with welcome touches such as hot water bottles and  the food and drink was delicious and plentiful.

All the extra activities such as brunches by the river, sundowners on the rocks, jumping off waterfalls and tubing, joining in with Samburu dancers on New Year’s Eve were great fun and we had lots of laughs. 

The only thing that didn’t seem to work so well was the fly camping, partly because it was very cold at night. Paddy camped out but, because I wasn’t feeling well and Annabelle and Steve kindly offered me their spare bed, I didn’t in the end, which I have to admit was a bit of a relief. 

Thank you very much for putting the holiday together for us, we had a wonderful time and are determined to return when funds allow!

Kind regards

Sarah W

Hi Fi,

Thanks a lot for your help, the gamedrive were amazing, we enjoyed our trip.

Everything was fantastic!!

Our driver, Omani, was fantastic too!

What beautiful memories !

Nice to meet you on the web!

(Kenya)

Dear Fi

My holiday report!!

As you know we love Alfijiri as we were going back again after 3 months. I think the main thing is you can say that the service is second to none. We asked for Martin again and this time they also gave us Jofhrey who was also wonderful. I cannot speak highly enough of them. Having a mother with so much wrong with her including throat cancer and not very good mobility it was so much appreciated all the help that we had with her. Nothing was too much trouble and they had patience in the bucket load. Martin even put a chair in my mother’s bathroom as he remembered from last time. 

The food was also really good  and they went out of their way to serve things for my mother at any time she asked.

We loved Marika last time and we all said that she was the perfect host. Everything was done with so much energy and a friendly helpfulness. We were gutted to hear that this time she would not be there and we would have Fabrizio as our host. Well, he was charming!!! He put up with us 4 girls and even had supper with us 2 nights and kept us entertained with lots of stories.

Lake Naivasha

John, our guide. He could not have been better. He had a wonderful sense of humour and came out with so much interesting information. We had a really interesting tour round the flower farm and a lovely bush breakfast by the lake. 

You Fi were wonderful as usual! I am worried that if I say exactly how wonderful you might get too big headed! You kept me calm with the normal dramas that I have with the rest of the family when I try and arrange a trip and you never give up trying a million different ways to find us flights. You let me waffle on when I was in a panic with having booked it only just over a week before we went. Most of all you know what we need as a family and that is the biggest thing. It is also the reason that we keep going to Kenya! Thank you millions and fingers crossed that we get to go again soon.

Lots of love from you BEST clients (we have booked 4 trips in under a year!)

Karenza

I just wanted to pass on a compliment. My fiancé and I are thrilled with the effort and attention Fi gave us. From not knowing anything about us and whether we were serious about booking a trip, Fi handled our flip floping and questions gracefully and with determination to plan us the perfect honeymoon, within our budget. All through tedious email, I might add. We cannot wait for this dream trip of a lifetime all because of her work. (Tanzania and Zanzibar)

Ari

We had a wonderfully exciting and memorable trip and very much enjoyed both parts of the holiday firstly revisiting Paddy’s old school, seeing the real Kenya and meeting some lovely local people.
 
Then secondly going on safari, where we were spoilt rotten! Sosian exceeded our expectations. Annabelle and Steve were very attentive hosts and all the staff were cheerful, helpful and very knowledgeable about the wildlife;  it was  a privilege to share their passion.

Thank you very much for putting the holiday together for us, we had a wonderful time and are determined to return when funds allow!

Sarah
BLR22